Wander plugs? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Tim · 28th Jan 2006, 9:45 pm

Evening all.
Just found these on the Rapid electronics site.
I just wondered if one of the correct size could be used as a wander plug?

http://www.rapidelectronics.co.uk/rk...1794&XPAGENO=2

What does the team think?
TTFN
Tim

mikelect · 28th Jan 2006, 9:53 pm

Hi Tim a good idea in principle, but to sub for a wander plug they would need to be 3.1mm or 1/8" and this doesn't appear in their size list.

Mike

paulsherwin · 28th Jan 2006, 10:00 pm

Rather expensive as well in small quantities.

A standard phono plug will work if you flatten the pin a little.

Best regards, Paul

Tim · 29th Jan 2006, 1:29 am

Oh well, back to the drawing board.
Nearest size seems to be 2.8 mm dia.
Paul, your right about the price. I hoped that was for a pack!!!

AndiiT · 29th Jan 2006, 1:12 pm

Hi
Maplins used to sell "proper" Wander plugs, I have had a look on their site and can't seem to find any though

I will check the catalogue (far easier to navigate through IMHO) and let you know the part number if I find any in there

Andrew

stevekendal · 29th Jan 2006, 1:55 pm

Maplins dropped them a couple of years ago and the last source, Tait components have run dry also

Steve.

Mach One · 31st Jan 2006, 6:37 pm

Are these the same as Banana Plugs? They're 4mm I think.

paulsherwin · 31st Jan 2006, 6:40 pm

Banana plugs are significantly bigger and won't fit. A number of manufacturers used banana plugs rather than wander plugs, notably Philips.

Paul

stephanie · 31st Jan 2006, 10:30 pm

Which explains why regular banana plugs won't fit on my Ecko's antenna terminals...
Who was the braniac that came up with these weird-sized plugs? I'm going to have to try the mutilated-RCA plug-approach. I have some cheap ones I can cut the metal "shield off to just leave the pin.

mikelect · 31st Jan 2006, 10:38 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephanie

Who was the braniac that came up with these weird-sized plugs?

It was probably someone from the former Colonies

as my 1965 Heathkit Mohican has them for Aerial & Earth connections

Mike

Mach One · 1st Feb 2006, 1:07 pm

It's a bit of a botch, but if you have some thickish braided mains wire (of the 13A variety), bare the end of the cable and fold it back, I find it fits into the Wander Plug (thinner) socket enough to get something working. If you're desperate...

Telleadict · 1st Feb 2006, 6:51 pm

Having read trough this would it be possible to make a substitute for these plugs something like this.

Find a short piece of brass rod to fit the socket (anyone with a small lathe could easily turn something to fit),

Solder a length of flexible wire to one end of the brass rod.

Sleve the jointed end with some plastic tube and 'pot' with Araldite or similar to support the soldering.

I have never tryed this but it occered to me as I read this and if these plugs are no longer available it might be worth experimenting with

Full of good ideas, Will

DON THOMSON · 1st Feb 2006, 7:36 pm

Depends what you want them for but in the past I have used split pins with the wire soldered to the inside of the eye.You would need a non-corrosive flux to solder to steel.
Don

Nickthedentist · 1st Feb 2006, 7:43 pm

If so, soldering would be easy, and a neat termination could be achieved with a bit of heat-shrink sleeving.

Nick

mikelect · 1st Feb 2006, 9:59 pm

You would need 3.2mm or 1/8" split pins which should be available. There is a guy called 6K8 on e-bay who usually has wander plugs and sockets, which are ex Govt. must be worth a try.

Mike

Brian R Pateman · 1st Feb 2006, 10:32 pm

Matchsticks

stevekendal · 2nd Feb 2006, 12:00 am

These look likely

Steve http://www.jamestowndistributors.com...ss.Cotter.Pins

Mike Phelan · 2nd Feb 2006, 9:35 am

Hi Steve
Never seen brass split pins before!
Quite a few old wander plugs actually were split pins - steel, for springiness, and plated with nickel, I think.
This went into a threaded brass bush with a slot across it so the eye of the split pin went in and trapped the lead. The plastic surround then screwed everything together.
I would think that just using normal steel split pins, from Screwfix, Draper, local motor factor et al would be fine. You could use a - say - 6mm screw, drill it, slot it and saw the end off, then file or turn down an M6 nut and epoxy it together.
May try this - watch this space!

[IMG]http://static.***********/39/94439979_a853c0ae7e_o.jpg[/IMG]

mikelect · 5th Feb 2006, 11:22 pm

For those interested in doing it the easy way

wander plugs are available here http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3MM-SPLIT-PIN-...QQcmdZViewItem HTH

Mike

Tim · 6th Feb 2006, 10:31 am

Blimey, I think it would be cheaper to make ones own.
A bloke up the road has a model engineering workshop, with lathe etc. I might take him a couple of beers.

28th Jan 2006, 9:45 pm	#1
Tim Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 3,308	Wander plugs? Evening all. Just found these on the Rapid electronics site. I just wondered if one of the correct size could be used as a wander plug? http://www.rapidelectronics.co.uk/rk...1794&XPAGENO=2 What does the team think? TTFN Tim __________________ "Nothing is as dangerous as being too modern;one is apt to grow old fashioned quite suddenly."

28th Jan 2006, 9:53 pm	#2
mikelect Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK. Posts: 799	Re: Wander plugs? Hi Tim a good idea in principle, but to sub for a wander plug they would need to be 3.1mm or 1/8" and this doesn't appear in their size list. Mike

28th Jan 2006, 10:00 pm	#3
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,934	Re: Wander plugs? Rather expensive as well in small quantities. A standard phono plug will work if you flatten the pin a little. Best regards, Paul

29th Jan 2006, 1:29 am	#4
Tim Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 3,308	Re: Wander plugs? Oh well, back to the drawing board. Nearest size seems to be 2.8 mm dia. Paul, your right about the price. I hoped that was for a pack!!! __________________ "Nothing is as dangerous as being too modern;one is apt to grow old fashioned quite suddenly."

29th Jan 2006, 1:12 pm	#5
AndiiT Octode Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Saltburn-East, Cleveland, UK. Posts: 1,786	Re: Wander plugs? Hi Maplins used to sell "proper" Wander plugs, I have had a look on their site and can't seem to find any though I will check the catalogue (far easier to navigate through IMHO) and let you know the part number if I find any in there Andrew

29th Jan 2006, 1:55 pm	#6
stevekendal Heptode Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Kendal, Cumbria, UK. Posts: 625	Re: Wander plugs? Maplins dropped them a couple of years ago and the last source, Tait components have run dry also Steve.

31st Jan 2006, 6:37 pm	#7
Mach One Heptode Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 611	Re: Wander plugs? Are these the same as Banana Plugs? They're 4mm I think.

31st Jan 2006, 6:40 pm	#8
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,934	Re: Wander plugs? Banana plugs are significantly bigger and won't fit. A number of manufacturers used banana plugs rather than wander plugs, notably Philips. Paul

31st Jan 2006, 10:30 pm	#9
stephanie Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New Bern, North Carolina, USA Posts: 346	Re: Wander plugs? Which explains why regular banana plugs won't fit on my Ecko's antenna terminals... Who was the braniac that came up with these weird-sized plugs? I'm going to have to try the mutilated-RCA plug-approach. I have some cheap ones I can cut the metal "shield off to just leave the pin.

1st Feb 2006, 1:07 pm	#11
Mach One Heptode Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 611	Re: Wander plugs? It's a bit of a botch, but if you have some thickish braided mains wire (of the 13A variety), bare the end of the cable and fold it back, I find it fits into the Wander Plug (thinner) socket enough to get something working. If you're desperate...

1st Feb 2006, 6:51 pm	#12
Telleadict Hexode Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Nr. York, North Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 348	Re: Wander plugs? Having read trough this would it be possible to make a substitute for these plugs something like this. Find a short piece of brass rod to fit the socket (anyone with a small lathe could easily turn something to fit), Solder a length of flexible wire to one end of the brass rod. Sleve the jointed end with some plastic tube and 'pot' with Araldite or similar to support the soldering. I have never tryed this but it occered to me as I read this and if these plugs are no longer available it might be worth experimenting with Full of good ideas, Will

1st Feb 2006, 7:36 pm	#13
DON THOMSON Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CHELMSFORD, ESSEX,UK Posts: 26	Re: Wander plugs? Depends what you want them for but in the past I have used split pins with the wire soldered to the inside of the eye.You would need a non-corrosive flux to solder to steel. Don

1st Feb 2006, 7:43 pm	#14
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,841	Re: Wander plugs? If so, soldering would be easy, and a neat termination could be achieved with a bit of heat-shrink sleeving. Nick

1st Feb 2006, 9:59 pm	#15
mikelect Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK. Posts: 799	Re: Wander plugs? You would need 3.2mm or 1/8" split pins which should be available. There is a guy called 6K8 on e-bay who usually has wander plugs and sockets, which are ex Govt. must be worth a try. Mike

1st Feb 2006, 10:32 pm	#16
Brian R Pateman Nonode Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Western Lake District, Cumbria (CA20) - UK Posts: 2,136	Re: Wander plugs? Matchsticks __________________ Brian

2nd Feb 2006, 12:00 am	#17
stevekendal Heptode Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Kendal, Cumbria, UK. Posts: 625	Re: Wander plugs? These look likely Steve http://www.jamestowndistributors.com...ss.Cotter.Pins

2nd Feb 2006, 9:35 am	#18
Mike Phelan Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Near Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK Posts: 4,609	Re: Wander plugs? Hi Steve Never seen brass split pins before! Quite a few old wander plugs actually were split pins - steel, for springiness, and plated with nickel, I think. This went into a threaded brass bush with a slot across it so the eye of the split pin went in and trapped the lead. The plastic surround then screwed everything together. I would think that just using normal steel split pins, from Screwfix, Draper, local motor factor et al would be fine. You could use a - say - 6mm screw, drill it, slot it and saw the end off, then file or turn down an M6 nut and epoxy it together. May try this - watch this space! [IMG]http://static.***********/39/94439979_a853c0ae7e_o.jpg[/IMG] __________________ Mike.

5th Feb 2006, 11:22 pm	#19
mikelect Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK. Posts: 799	Re: Wander plugs? For those interested in doing it the easy way wander plugs are available here http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3MM-SPLIT-PIN-...QQcmdZViewItem HTH Mike

6th Feb 2006, 10:31 am	#20
Tim Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 3,308	Re: Wander plugs? Blimey, I think it would be cheaper to make ones own. A bloke up the road has a model engineering workshop, with lathe etc. I might take him a couple of beers. __________________ "Nothing is as dangerous as being too modern;one is apt to grow old fashioned quite suddenly."